FALL 2004 TECHSTRACKS Materials Science and Engineering A newsletter for Keck Laboratory for Combinatorial alumni and friends of the Department of Nanosynthesis and Multiscale Materials Science and Engineering Characterization he University of Maryland has received a major award of $750,000 from the W. M. TKeck Foundation of Los Angeles to establish a new Laboratory for Combinatorial Nanosynthesis and Multiscale Characterization. Conceived by Professors Ichiro Takeuchi, Gary W. Rubloff, and Ellen Williams, the Keck Laboratory will be a centerpiece for INSIDE pioneering research which extends campus strengths in combinatorial materials science, 2 Message from scanning nanoprobes, and highly controlled materials synthesis profoundly into the the Chair nanoscale domain to enable fundamentally new insights into the behavior of materials at the nanoscale. 3 Student News 4 Department News The Keck Laboratory for Combinatorial atomic scale. The chemical and structural properties Nanosynthesis and Multiscale Characterization will of the combinatorial material libraries will be moni- 6 Faculty News be located in the new Jeong H. Kim Engineering tored during their production using surface analytical 7 Research Building, scheduled to open in January 2005. The techniques; then the samples will be transferred to Spotlight $750,000 award from the Keck Foundation will sup- the microscope under ultraclean conditions. This will 8 Photo Gallery port the creation of a revolutionary experimental enable researchers to establish clear correlations and platform with unprecedented capabilities for rapid deep understanding of how the architecture of mate- 10 Alumni News exploration of advanced complex smart materials and rials at the nanoscale determines the properties and 11 Recent Graduates memory devices, as well as systematic investigation of performance of complex material systems. 12 End Notes their physical mechanisms. Laser molecular beam epi- The Keck Laboratory brings together University taxial growth under ultraclean conditions will enable of Maryland excellence in materials research, par- control and lattice engineering of materials at the ticularly in complex multifunctional oxide materials, atomic level, while in-situ patterning of the materials combinatorial materials science, surface nanostruc- will deliver combinatorial libraries for rapid materials tures, and integrated materials processing. The NSF discovery and development. Characterization of Materials Research Science and Engineering Center materials properties and performance metrics across (MRSEC) at Maryland is a leader in the synthesis the combinatorial libraries will be carried out using a and characterization of complex material systems, novel microscope which measures the performance of the development of surface nanostructure probes, materials through spin resonance microwave micros- and nanoscale understanding of underlying physical copy at the nanoscale and surface structure at the mechanisms of materials and surfaces. The NSF Message From the Chair Welcome to the Fall 2004 MSE Engineering), Cardenas (Mechanical Newsletter. There have been many Engineering) and Bonenberger recent exciting developments in the (Aerospace Engineering). Department which are highlighted in There have also been significant this newsletter. In particular, I would accomplishments of our students like to draw your attention to the which should be noted. Erin Dreyer accomplishments of our faculty and received the Dinah Berman Memorial R.M. Briber students. Professors Takeuchi, Rubloff Award which is presented to a Chair, Materials and Williams (Physics) received a large junior for demonstrated leadership Science and award from the Keck Foundation and service to the Clark School Engineering to build a Laboratory for of Engineering. Erin also received Combinatorial Nanosynthesis and the Morgan L. Williams Memorial Multiscale Characterization. This Scholarship from the Washington, will be a state-of-the-art facility for DC Chapter of ASM International. the combinatorial synthesis and high Dan Janiak received the Chairman’s resolution characterization of novel Outstanding Senior Award and Susan new materials. The laboratory will Beatty received the Outstanding be housed in the Kim Engineering Materials Student Service Award. Building, due to open in January 2005. Please read through the newsletter to In addition, the Kim Engineering learn about other awards and achieve- Building will contain a new teaching ments by our students and faculty. laboratory for materials characteriza- The Department is looking to hire tion -The Modern Engineering two new assistant professors this year Materials Instructional Lab. This which makes it an exciting time to be will provide a significant improvement leading the effort in Materials Science in the laboratory experience for our and Engineering at the University of 2 MSE undergraduates. The lab is Maryland. If you are in the Washington partially funded by a new NSF DC metro area, please stop by the grant obtained by Professors Martinez- Department for a visit. Miranda, Briber, Bruck (Mechanical Keck Laboratory - continued from page one International Materials Institute (with a pioneer in combinatorial materials sci- William Myron Keck, founder of The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and ence and multifunctional materials. An Superior Oil Co., the Foundation’s grant- Florida International University) is a focal associate professor in Materials Science making is focused primarily on the areas point for global collaboration and advance and Engineering and the Center for of medical research, science, and engi- of combinatorial materials experimenta- Superconductivity Research, he has neering. tion and informatics. received an NSF CAREER award and Prof. Williams (Physics), founding an ONR Young Investigator award. Prof. Director of the NSF MRSEC at Rubloff has been a leader in ultraclean, Maryland, is an expert in scanning probe integrated processing and characterization microscopies and atomic scale char- of electronic materials. He is the former acterization of surfaces. She is a distin- director of the Institute for Systems guished university professor in Physics Research, professor in Materials Science and the Institute for Physical Science and and Engineering and ISR, and the recipient Technology (IPST), and the recipient of of the AVS Gaede-Langmuir Prize. numerous awards, including the APS The W. M. Keck Foundation is one The new Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building Goeppert-Mayer award and the MRS of the nation’s largest philanthropic orga- will open in January, 2005. Turnbull Lectureship. Prof. Takeuchi is nizations. Established in 1954 by the late TECHSTRACKS ■ Fall 2004 Materials Engineering Society Activities Through the Year The 2003-2004 academic year was a Student chapter meetings were diverse are Erin Dreyer, President, Paul Freese time of great success for the Materials and well attended. Some of the most Vice President, Erin Flanagan, Secretary, Engineering Student chapter (MatES). interesting meetings featured a discussion and Jo Meador, Treasurer. Throughout the year, MatES worked to with Robert Briber, Department Chair, The society continues to encourage improve the quality of its programming, discussing his plans for the Department, support from department alumni. Guest through social, service, and career develop- Stephanie Coffin from the Nuclear speakers are always welcome. Contact ment activities. Many past events were Regulatory Commission, and the return of the society president, Erin Dreyer retained and improved upon, while new six former alums who shared post college ([email protected]), if you would like activities were added. The new activities information. to speak at a meeting or contribute in were designed to give Chapter members The Chapter continued its tradition of another way. See the MatES website the opportunity to nework, and to learn capturing national awards. It received the at http://www.mse.umd.edu/mates/ for about their field, their career options, and TMS Most Improved Chapter award and upcoming events and more information. their Chapter organization. for the fourth year in a row, the award for Erin Dreyer, MatES President, devel- the Most Creative Recruitment Strategies. oped a weekly electronic newsletter. She For the first time, MatES won a monetary also compiled a member directory which prize and certificate for its Maryland Day was mailed and posted in the student design: a crystal crawl-through structure lounge. with crystal building station. The design Chapter members assisted in the orga- was voted Best Representation of the nization of the Materials Science and Major in the “Obstacles of the Mind and Engineering Fall Open House. This half- Body” competition. 3 day event attracted over 100 engineering Chapter members continue to win students. The open house included dem- scholarships, and leadership, service and aca- MatES members Erin Flanagan and onstrations, lab tours, and food, as well demic awards at the University and nation- Paul Freese sell goodies in Martin Hall as conversation with materials faculty and ally. Student awards are listed below. to help raise funds for chapter activi- students. Officers for the 2004-05 school year ties. Undergraduate Awards and Honors Chairman’s Outstanding Senior Award Dinah Berman Memorial Award Presented to a graduating senior for scholarship, leader- Presented to a junior for demonstrated leadership and ser- ship, and service to the department vice to the Clark School